Pakistan warns against water weaponisation at Dushanbe conference
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik on Tuesday warned that attempts to weaken international water-sharing agreements could endanger the rights of downstream countries. He said India is attempting to politicise shared water resources in violation of long-standing international agreements.
Addressing the Fourth High-Level International Conference on Water for the International Decade for Action on Sustainable Development in Dushanbe, the minister said unilateral actions affecting transboundary rivers could create serious global challenges related to water security, food production, and climate resilience.
He said “water aggression” is unacceptable and stressed that no country should be allowed to use water as a weapon or unilaterally suspend international agreements in a way that deprives other nations of their legitimate water rights.
He urged India to respect the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and honour international arbitration mechanisms, warning that any attempt to annul the agreement would set a dangerous precedent for downstream countries worldwide.
Dr. Musadik Malik expressed concern that such actions would undermine multilateralism in global affairs, noting that cooperative international frameworks are increasingly being replaced by unilateral approaches.
He warned that upstream countries could exploit this trend to pressure vulnerable downstream states by restricting access to shared water resources.
Calling access to clean water a fundamental human right, he said farmers and rural communities in developing countries are particularly affected by disruptions in water supply.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s growing climate challenges, saying the country is among the most affected by global warming.
He noted that repeated floods and extreme weather events have destroyed infrastructure across Pakistan, damaged agricultural land, and disrupted livelihoods.
The minister warned that increasingly frequent “super floods” are intensifying economic pressure on the country and raising food security concerns through reduced agricultural output.During the conference, he also stressed the urgent need for regional cooperation on glacier melt and ecosystem protection.
He said Pakistan and Tajikistan together host nearly 13,000 glaciers, but have already lost around 1,000 due to rising global temperatures.He called for stronger cross-border coordination to monitor shrinking glaciers and protect shared ecosystems, and participated in discussions on regional climate and conservation protocols, including cooperation on wildlife protection measures.
The Dushanbe conference is widely seen as a preparatory forum for the upcoming United Nations Water Conference, which is expected to address growing concerns over climate change, international water governance, and global water security.
The four-day forum, running from May 25–28, brings together delegations from UN member states, international organisations, financial institutions, civil society and the private sector.
It features high-level plenary sessions, thematic discussions and an exhibition on water management technologies.According to Tajik authorities, nearly 400 journalists from international and domestic media outlets are covering the event.
